ASHRAE has introduced its 2020-21 society president, executive committee officers, and directors.

The president for the 2020-21 term is Charles E. Gulledge III, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, and a senior mechanical engineer at Environmental Air Systems in High Point, North Carolina. During his inaugural presidential address, Gulledge announced the new society theme will be “The ASHRAE Digital Lighthouse and Industry 4.0.”  The theme focuses on reimagining the building industry by not only integrating industry segments, but technology.

“We have an opportunity to challenge what work is, how it should be approached, and where it can be performed,” said Gulledge in a statement. “We can engage our workforce in activities that seek and create value. Data becomes a critical resource. Everything that unfolds in the future revolves around data.”

Elected officers serving a one-year term were also announced:

• President-Elect: Michael C.A. (Mick) Schwedler, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP, staff applications engineer, Trane, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
• Treasurer: Farooq Mehboob, P.E., Fellow Life Member ASHRAE, principal consultant, S. Mehboob & Company Consulting Engineers, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Vice President: Donald L. Brandt, Life Member ASHRAE, sales engineer, Trane, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Vice President:  William (Bill) Dean, P.Eng., Life Member ASHRAE, regional site operations manager, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Vice President: Tim McGinn, P.E., HBDP, principal, McGinn Technical Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• Vice President: William F. (Bill) McQuade, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP,vice president sector services, Air Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.

ASHRAE revealed its newest directors and regional chairs who will serve three-year terms from 2020-23:

• Region VII Director and Regional Chair: Chris M. Gray, Ph.D., P.E., chief technology officer, RENU Communities, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Region VIII Director and Regional Chair: Randy C. Schrecengost, P.E., senior project manager, Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas.
• Region IX Director and Regional Chair: Tyler J. Glesne, mechanical engineer, Control Services, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska.
• Region X Director and Regional Chair: Devin Abellon, business development manager, Uponor, Los Angeles, California.
• Region XIV Director and Regional Chair: Andres J. Sepulveda, presi­dent, Commtech, Madrid, Spain.

ASHRAE’s newest directors-at-large were also introduced:

• Kenneth Fulk, principal, Reed Wells Benson & Company, Allen, Texas.
• Wade Conlan, P.E., princi­pal, Hanson Pro­fessional Services, Maitland, Florida.
• Adrienne Thomle, retired, Reno, Nevada.

This June, ASHRAE announced the launch of its 2020 handbook, designed to help system designers and operators select equipment best fit for specific applications and scenarios. The guide has been distributed to members and is now available for purchase by the public.